title: Correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression with patient age, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathological grade in lumbar disc degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study is to analyze the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grading and histopathological alterations of the intervertebral disc (IVD) for correlations with each other and with the age, gender and low back pain duration of the patients who had undergone operations for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients were admitted to our clinic with signs of LDH and underwent surgery for LDH at 48 IVD levels. In all cases, specimens for histological and immunohistochemical analyses were removed from the IVD space. Lumbar IVD degeneration on MRI of the 48 IVDs from which surgical specimens had been obtained was classified into five grades using the Pfirrmann classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the degenerated IVD, the expression of MMP-3, MRI grading and histopathological alterations of the IVD displayed significant correlation. Increased age is closely related with aforementioned alterations. There was no correlation between MMP-3 expression and age, gender and duration of the pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For evaluating and treating IVD degeneration, MRI is a good and non-invasive diagnostic tool to determine the severity of degeneration. MMP-3 may be a therapeutic target of the degenerated IVD.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arda
authors.forename: Sukru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caglar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3